HS Football: Independence locks Bluefield in full Nelson

Patriots all-state senior running back Sylas Nelson rushes for over 200 yards and three scores the lead Independence past Bluefield

The battle between two of the top-3 football teams in Class AA boiled down to red-zone stops and the running of an all-state running back.

Top-rated Independence owned both Friday night at George D. Covey Field.

The vaunted Patriots defense held the Beavers to just three points on four trips inside the 20-yard line, while senior Sylas Nelson rushed for 218 yards in a 31-10 victory over the No. 3 rated Beavers.

The home team started quick and never trailed in the contest.

Nelson jump-started his team by making an immediate impact with a 32-yard burst to the end zone on the first Independence possession which took less than one minute off of the clock.

The all-state senior then recovered a Bluefield fumble before cashing it in on an 11-yard score for a 14-0 lead after one quarter.

Micah Cuthbert drilled a 29-yard field goal for a 17-0 lead, but the main story of the second quarter was two big defensive stops.

Twice the visitors drove inside the Patriots 10-yard line, only to come up empty with a turnover on downs.

The 17-point lead appeared it would stand at the break, but Bluefield grabbed the late momentum with a 35-yard touchdown pass from Max Simpson to Tylee Simon, trimming the deficit to 17-7.

Bluefield started the second half with the ball, but once again the story was inefficiency in the red zone.

Twice the Beavers forced an Independence turnover inside the Patriots' 20-yard line, but could only manage three points.

A 29-yard field goal from Eli Riffe pulled Bluefield within one score, but Nelson became the workhorse on the ensuing drive, capping it with a seven-yard burst and a 24-10 advantage.

Brock Green rounded out the Patriots night with a one-yard plunge in the fourth quarter for the final 21-point margin.

Simpson finished the night with 217 yards, but the Beavers managed just 62 yards on 26 carries on the ground.

While the credit sat mostly with the home town defense, the Beavers also lost star running back Willis Wilson early in the game to a lower leg injury and he was unable to return.

Independence (5-0) is off next Friday before hosting Westside in two weeks. Bluefield (3-2) travels to George Wythe, VA.

Bluefield head coach Freddie Simon and Independence head coach John H. Lilly talked afterwards about the clash.

B: 0 7 3 0 - 10

I: 14 3 7 7 - 31

First quarter

I: Sylas Nelson 32 run (Cuthbert kick)

I: Sylas Nelson 11 run ( Cuthbert kick)

Second quarter

I: Micah Cuthbert 29 FG

B: Tylee Simon 35 pass from Max Simpson (Eli Riffe kick)

Two 4th down stops inside the 10 for Indy

Third quarter

B: Eli Riffe 29 FG

I: Sylas Nelson 7 run (Cuthbert kick)

Fourth quarter

I: Brock Green 1 run (Cuthbert kick)

Stats

Rushing: (B) Willis Wilson 8-29, Jeremiah Jones 11-27, Jurrian Tabb 2-(-4), Max Simpson 5-10; (I) Nelson 28-218-3, Cole Laxton 4-8, Brock Green 5 (-4)-1.

Passing: (B) Simpson 14-32-217-1-0; (I) Green 7-15-102

Receiving: (B) Pax Calhoun 2-67, Tylee Simon 4-81-1, Jamarius Smith 5-47, Jordan Hess 3-22; (I) K.J. Viars 2-50, Christian Linksweiler 1-0, Kaden Bradbury 1-12, Cole Laxton 3-40.